West Waterford beach - 11th September 2008

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 10.45 pm - 4.15 am

Tide: HW at 4.00 am

Weather: Calm, mild, clear night, cloudy later

Bait: Frozen black lug, squid, mackerel, mussel, sandeel, razor

Rigs: Two hook flappers (size 1/0 and 3/0 hooks), three hook flapper (size 4, 2 and 1/0 hooks), 3/0 pennel pulley

Results: 1 dogfish, 3 flounder




Report: Having blanked at my usual East Cork beach on both Saturday and Tuesday nights despite a good surf I decided a change of venue was in order and tried a West Waterford beach that I only fished once before (on a dismal Sunday, freezing cold with lashing rain sometime last winter). It was much more pleasant this time.

I got there at low tide and there was a moderate surf rolling in. I set up three rods, one cast out as far as I could, the other at moderate distance and the third in close. I got the first bite not long after setting up on the moderate distance rod - a dogfish - taken on squid.

Thinking that this looked a promising start I was hopeful of a good session. However, it was very quite after that. There were a couple of timid pulls on the moderate and in close rods but nothing hooked - probably dogfish pulling on the bait.

It was about 2.00 am before I got the next fish - a 33 cm flounder taken on mackerel on the rod in close. Shortly after that I got another flounder of 34 cm on the moderate distance rod baited with black lug. Maybe about 10 minutes later I got the third flounder on the rod in close, another one of 33 cm taken on mackerel again. Usually with flounder I find that they tend to swallow the hooks but this time all three flounder were cleanly mouth hooked.

It got quite after that - there were a few missed bites, mostly on the rod in close - probably dogfish again.

I started to pack up at 4.15 am just after high tide.

Thanks Stan for the tip on that mark - no bass but I was happy enough with three moderate size flounder. I will have to try it again when there are larger tides

[RockHunter]

Third flounder

[roger de dodger]

if you were an a bass mark and no bass turned up consider youself lucky with a doggie and three flounder i know some marks that are nearly fishless if the bass dont show not crabless mind you do you work nights by any chance

[saltydog]

Fair play for sticking it out there's many that would've packed up, and you got your reward with some nice looking flounders at the end

[RockHunter]

Thanks guys,

if you were an a bass mark and no bass turned up consider youself lucky with a doggie and three flounder

Roger, that beach was not a specific bass mark - but some good size ones have been recorded there in the past. Flounder would be expected and there is also likely to be ray there or so I have been told.

do you work nights by any chance

No I don't work nights but I am self employed so I don't have to worry about starting work at 9.00 am